Cigarette or match case



(No Model.)

v J. L. SUMMER.

CIGARETTE 0R MATGH CASE.

No. 527,625. Patented 0m! 16, 1894.

I Attest: Inventor.

UNITED STATES PATENT Enron.

JOHN L. SOMMER, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

CIGARETTE OIR MATCH CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent'No. 527,625, dated October 16, 1894.

Application filed August 18, 1894; Serial No. 520,662- (No model.)

' ing a part of the same.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple and'effective device for preserving matches or cigarettes from injury from any source while carried by the user, and to afford a readily accessible receptacle for the same.

The invention consists primarily in a case of special construction comprising a body adapted to be secured within the crown of a hat, and a cover pivoted to the opposite edges of the body and adapted to be removed fromthe mouth of the same by a lateral movement.

The invention also consists in certain details of such construction hereinafter described and claimed.

In the annexed drawings, Figure l is a side view of the case provided with a backing suitable for attachment to the lining of a hat within the crown; and Fig. 2 an edge view of the same with the backing in section through the fastening prongs upon one side of the case, showing also in dotted lines the cover shifted outward to expose the contents of the case. Fig. 3 is an inside view of the body of the case detached; and Fig.4 an edge view of the same. Fig. 5 is an inside view of the cover detached; and Fig. 6 an edge view of the same.

The case is formed from a sheet metal blank struck up to produce both the body a, with flanges b along its opposite edges and the cover 0 integral therewith, as shown in Fig. 3, the cover being indicated in dotted lines. The cover is subsequently cut off from the body of the case, and the flanges b are then clippedat' their ends to form the pointed prongs b which are adapted to be passed through the pasteboard backing d with thin facing e of leather and clinched upon its rear side as indicated in Fig. 2.

The cover 0 is flared outwardly at its junction with the body portion a, so that, when nearly empty, and its contents assume a diagonal position therein, the projecting ends may not interfere with the closing of the cover. Such cover is provided upon each edge with the rigid arms f projected along the opposite edges of the bodya and pivoted thereto at their outer extremities contiguous to the flange, which is clipped free from the body adjacent to the pivots f for the arms may obviously be provided upon the outside" of the body a or the cover 0, and may be formed integral therewith if desired. A lug c is provided at the end of the cover 0 for the engagement of the finger nail of the user in opening the case.

As the outer end of each arm f is angular,

it is evident that the engagement of the spring tongues g therewith will hold the same normally in whatever position it assumes when any one of its flat sides is opposed to such spring; and that the turning of such supporting arms about their pivots f operates to bring their corners into engagement with the tongues g and to thereby deflect the latter inwardly with the adjacent portion of the backing d e, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2. While the pasteboard backing serves in practice by its stiifness to reinforce the spring tongues so that the latter may be formed of the thin metal constituting the body of the case, such flexible backing is obviously not a material feature of the present invention; as it could be readily replaced by a metal back to adapt the device to be carried in the pocket of the user, and the spring tongues would then be made of metal sufficiently stiff to serve their object of locking the cover in its open and closed positions.

As illustrated herein, the pasteboard back ing is shaped to fit over the smooth crown piece of a hat lining, the edges of the leather facing e being glued or cemented to the gathered surrounding portions of the lining to secure the receptacle in place in the hat. In practice a band of the adhesive substance is applied around the edges of such leather facing upon the back in the process of manufacture, thus requiring only to be moistened preparatory to its application to the hat.

By the employment of the hat for carrying either matches or cigarettes, the latter are preserved with the utmost security from the penetration of moisture, and are equally protected from the crushing to which they would be liable when carried in the pockets of the user.

By the application of a scratching surface to such receptacle within the hat, the same is held in the most accessible position for use in cases where the hat is employed as a shield from the wind when lighting a match, which latter is a common practice.

While the receptacle shown and described herein is specially adapted for application to a hat, it is obvious that the same may be readily formed with an integral back; in which case it would be perfectly suitable for carrying in the pocket as is the present custom.

From the above description, it will be observed that the leading feature of my present invention consists in the provision of the cover with projecting arms pivoted to the edges of the body portion of the case, whereby the cover is adapted to be shifted laterally to expose the contents of the case; offering thereby a simple and effective means of securing the same in its several positions by means of the integral spring tongues 9.

By the rigid attachment of the arms f to the edges of the cover 0, the latter is adapted to always assume its proper relation to the body a. when the arms return to their normal position after having been deflected therefrom by the shifting of the cover.

It is obvious that the leather facing 2 may be printed with any suitable advertising matter and may be provided also with the name of the wearer of the hat; but I do not claim this feature as my invention, although I propose to employ the same in practice.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claim herein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A cigarette or match case comprising the body open at one end and provided with fastening flanges along its opposite edges formed with spring tongues as described, and a cover applied thereto and provided with projecting arms having angular extremities extended along the body of the case and pivoted to its edges contiguous to the said spring tongues, substantially as shown and described.

2. A cigarette or match case comprising the body open at one end and provided with flanges along its opposite edges formed with spring tongues as described and formed at the ends with integral prongs, and a cover applied to such body and provided with projecting arms having angular extremities extended along the body of the case and pivoted to its edges contiguous to the said spring tongues, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The cigarette or match case adapted for application within a hat crown, consisting in the body a with fastening flanges I) along its opposite edges provided with the integral spring tongues g, the backing d for the same, and the cover 0 with projecting arms f pivoted to the opposite edges of the body acontiguous 7 5 to the spring tongues, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. As a new article of manufacture, a match case comprising the body on secured upon the backing d having its rear edge gummed as described in readiness for attachment to the lining of a hat within the crown, and the cover 0 pivoted to the body of the case and adapted to be shifted laterally to expose the mouth of the case, substantially as shown 8 and described and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN L. SOMMER.

Witnesses:

MAXIMILLIAN G. HANGS, HENRY J. MILLER. 

